The airline reportedly took legal advice on whether it could withdraw or postpone the dividend.

EasyJet’s chief executive, Johan Lundgren, told BBC radio on Saturday that the payment was “something that we are legally obliged to do”.

Scores of other stock market listed companies are withdrawing or reconsidering their annual payouts.

Since 2012, the airline has paid some £1.8bn to shareholders, including this latest dividend. Sir Stelios - who controls 34% of easyJet - and family interests have received almost £650m, the Times reports.

A spokesman for Easyjet said the airline wasn’t looking for a taxpayer bailout.

Mr Lundgren said: “We are looking for loans on a commercial basis. We are not asking for free money.